Should I air dry my jeans?

Author: Dr. Jarred Wolff Sr.  |  Last update: Friday, September 12, 2025

Hang your jeans up to air dry or use a no heat cycle Exposing your jeans to direct heat in the dryer can shrink, fade or yellow denim, and it can also cause damage to stretch denim fabrics that contain spandex or Lycra.

Do jeans need to be air dried?

All you have to remember are these two words: AIR. DRY. Using the dryer can damage denim, as well as shrink it. Air drying helps preserve the fit, color and fabric.

Can you put jeans in the air dryer?

The best way to dry jeans is by hanging them up to air dry. If you need to use a dryer, select a low or no heat cycle and use dryer balls to keep your jeans tumbling.

How do I dry my jeans quickly?

Hanging Technique

Hang your jeans on a drying rack or clothesline for at least 12 hours, or overnight. Turn the jeans inside out to prevent fading from the sun, and turn on a fan to help the drying process go quicker. Also, make sure your jeans are fully zipped and buttoned and that the pockets are empty.

Is it better to air dry pants?

Air-drying also prevents laundry mishaps: If you hang-dry, it's much harder to accidentally shrink a garment or to set in a stain permanently. Best of all, for anyone with a penchant for the color black: Air-drying keeps your blacks and other darks, like deep indigo denim, looking their best much longer.

My EXACT beauty routine that everyone keeps asking about!

How long do pants need to air dry?

Air drying jeans can take anywhere from a couple of hours outdoors in the sun to a full day or more indoors during cold or humid weather. If you're in a pinch and need to speed the process along, run your jeans through the dryer on low heat until they're nearly dry, but not overheated.

Is it healthier to air dry?

When used timely and moderately, blow drying is better for scalp and hair. Air drying (like over washing) over an extended period can cause scalp to compensate, over produce oil leaving hair more oily, and causing you to fight the imbalance with more and more shampoo for oily scalp and hair.

How fast do jeans air dry?

If you use a dryer, remove the jeans before they're completely dry and let the jeans finish drying on a towel to maintain their size and shape. How long do jeans take to air dry? f you plan to air dry your jeans, plan for at least 15-24 hours for the pants to fully feel dry.

Should you dry jeans inside out?

When it comes to drying jeans, be sure to turn your pair inside out and tumble dry them on a delicate cycle and low heat setting, unless the care label directs otherwise. Toss in a few dryer balls to help keep them tumbling so they'll dry more evenly.

Why are my jeans still wet after drying?

If your clothes are still wet after a drying cycle it could mean that the Air Vent is clogged. To fix this problem, you will have to unplug the dryer and disconnect it from the vent. Once everything is disconnected, it's time to vacuum the vent.

How often should jeans be washed?

A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.

Is it bad to dry jeans on high heat?

In fact, according to Levi's, the iconic jeans company, dryers and denim are “natural enemies.” Running your jeans through a high-heat cycle is not the best option. Instead, air drying them or running them through a no-heat dryer cycle will leave them clean, crisp, and no worse for wear.

How to air dry jeans without smell?

To dry clothes indoors without them smelling, make sure to remove any excess water before hanging them up to dry. Also, avoid leaving clothes in the machine for too long after washing and use a fabric conditioner, like Lenor Outdoorables, to keep clothes smelling fresh.

How do you keep jeans soft when air drying?

Shake Your Clothes

Give your clothing a good shake when you hang them on the line. It is comparable to how your dryer tumbles the items inside. While it's not quite as efficient as tumbling the clothing for half an hour, snapping them before putting them on helps keep them softer.

Can you put raw denim in the dryer?

Recap: Air dry inside out in a shaded area. Avoid machine drying on high temperatures at all costs.

Should I air dry ripped jeans?

You can hang your distressed jeans either on a curtain rod, such as the rod for a shower curtain, or you can hang them outdoors on a line running between two trees. Regardless, you should try to get into the habit of line drying your distressed jeans rather than using a tumble clothes dryer.

Is it safe to air dry jeans?

Hang your jeans up to air dry or use a no heat cycle

Exposing your jeans to direct heat in the dryer can shrink, fade or yellow denim, and it can also cause damage to stretch denim fabrics that contain spandex or Lycra.

Why wash socks inside out?

Yes, you should wash socks inside out in addition to pretreating the fabric as it can reduce odor retention. The interior of your socks can come into direct contact with dirt and sweat. Turning them inside out before washing allows the detergent to attack odors head on, which may provide you with a more thorough clean.

Should you wash jeans zipped or unzipped?

If your jeans are machine-washable, be sure to turn them inside-out and zip them up so they won't get caught on any fabric. Also, remember to use the coldest water option, and add a small amount of detergent before running the water.

Does drying jeans shrink them?

If you're looking for a more technical explanation, jeans shrink in the dryer because the high heat and the agitation from the tumbling cause the bonds in the fibers to break and the fabric to contract. (This also means that the washing machine—especially when hot water is used—can cause jeans to shrink, too.)

How to dry jeans indoors?

Drying Laundry Indoors: Tips to Avoid Damp and Mould Growth
  1. Ensure Adequate Ventilation. The key to successfully drying laundry indoors is to ensure good air circulation in the space. ...
  2. Use a Dehumidifier. ...
  3. Avoid Overcrowding. ...
  4. Choose the Right Spot. ...
  5. Dry Clothes on a Rack. ...
  6. Maintain Your Home.

Is it bad to sleep with wet hair?

Consistently sleeping on wet hair can raise a person's risk of hair breakage, as well as other health concerns such as scalp infections. However, sleeping on wet hair from time to time isn't likely to cause any significant harm, dermatologists said.

Is it better to air dry all clothes?

It is important to note that most damage occurs in the dryer rather than in the washing machine. To best preserve fibers and to save energy, air dry whenever possible.

Is dry air better for lungs?

Cold and Dry

Cold air is often dry air, and for many, especially those with chronic lung disease, that can spell trouble. Dry air can irritate the airways of people with lung diseases. This can lead to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

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